Antinori goes shopping in Napa Valley: acquired a prestigious Californian winery

The Antinori winery in San Casciano Val di Pesa (Dire) Florence, 10 May 2023 – Just a few months ago, their cellar in classic Chianti obtained the highest recognition of the World’s best vineyards, the coveted ranking of world wine tourism excellence , which collects the most beautiful and evocative cellars from all over the world, those to be visited at least once in a lifetime. Antinori, an authentic icon of Italian wine history, is one of those names capable of maintaining the prestige of ‘made in Italy’ in the world: this is confirmed by the recent acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, the largest winery in the North Pacific area -western and among the best companies in the United States for the production of premium wines. The collaboration between the Antinori family winery – currently led by honorary president Piero together with his daughter Albiera – and the American company, with its 300-acre vineyard in the heart of California’s legendary Napa Valley, had lasted for 16 years. It was 2007, in fact, when the Marchesi Antinori entered the company with 15% of the shares. Now the total acquisition (financial advisor Mediobanca): the change of ownership will be effective by the end of June. “There are few opportunities like this in a lifetime where something as important and historic as Stag’s Leap is available. I have to thank Ste Michelle Wine Estates for the opportunity we were given”, says Piero Antinori. “It is a source of pride for me and my family to be able to confirm the promise made 16 years ago to my friend Warren Winiarski (founder, in 1970, of the winery which, thanks to the many awards achieved over the years, has contributed to making the quality of Californian wines in the world, ed): to preserve the heritage and values ​​of such a prestigious company as Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars”. “It has been an honor to partner with the Antinori family and successfully continue the incredible story of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. We wish the best to the Antinori family to continue this path in the future – says Shawn Conway, CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates – Our roots, since our foundation, are found in the American Pacific Northwest area, and that is where it resides. the future of our company. This move allows us to better focus our energies and resources on the parts of our business with the greatest growth potential.” Stag’s Leap produces about 1.5 million bottles and has a turnover of about $80 million. Since 1973 his Svl wine (a Cabernet Sauvignon which, in 1973, defeated the competition of famous Bordeaux in a challenge between Californian and French wines) has been exhibited as one of the objects that made America at the Smithsonian’s national Museum of American History. The coup scored by Antinori is an excellent result for the entire national wine sector: thanks to the record export numbers in 2022 (about 8 billion euros, out of a total of 59 billion in value of agri-food exports), Italy sets out to conquer the excellences scattered throughout the world.